BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 434, 24 October 1868, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting of the Council wao held on Thursday evening, at the Fire Brigade Hall. Present— Tho Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Strike, Coates, Moore, Kilgour, Rae, Ashton, Wickes, and Parkinson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Town Clerk read answers to tele? grams from Mr Stafford and Mr Harrison, on the' subject of the sale of Stoney Lead, ' which were published in our last. — They were received. A letter was read from the office of the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, acknowledging receipt of a letter from the Council, and enclosing a copy of a clause which had been inserted in the County of Westland Bill, bringing .ill wharves and quays on the Grey River within the Borough of Greymouth tinder the control of the Municipal Council. — The letter was received. A letter was read from Mr Sale, County Secretary, enquiring whether a copy of a telegram to the General Government, read at a recent public meeting, was correctly stated ; and whether the same was forwarded by order of the Mayor and Council. Mr Parkinson moved that the Town Clerk be authorised to reply to the County Secretary's letter, stating that the telegram referred to was sent by order of the Borough Council. Mr Moore seconded the motion, which was carried. The Mayor stated that he had received intimation from the Government that he had been gazetted a Justice of the Peace for the Colony. (Applause,) An application was read from James Kerman and party for the lease of an acre of ground on the South Spit, next to M 'Sherry and party. — The letter was received and ordered to stand over for consideration. An application was read from Stephen. Roff for the situation of engine-driver, at the rate of 14s per day.— Received. Messrs Kilgour and Perotti wrote asking for permission to remove their tramway line from the west to the east side of tlie lagoon, and through the Native Reserve.— Received, and referred to the Public Works Committee. A letter was received from Mr Win, Heaphy, which was supposed to refer to. the formation of a tramway from tho shingle bank at the head of the town, but the Town Clerk said he could not read it, and it was left over. The report of the Finance Committee was read, which stated that they had resolved to pay the engineer's salary up to October 22, to draw a, sum for pptty cash, and to refer to the Council's consideration of the amount of security to be found by the Town Clerk. The report was received, and Mr Wickes moved — " That the amount of security to be given by the Town Clerk be, in the meantime, fixed at £200." Mr Rae moved an amendment — "That the amount be fixed at because the Town Clerk would also act as Rate Collector. Mr Kilgour seconded, and added tie, •words, "and that the same be from a Guarantee Society." Mr Parkinson thought £200 would be sufficient in the meantime, as the appointment was not a permanent one, and no rates could be collected for some time to come. The Mayor thought it was desirable the Town Clerk should be informed what the permanent amount was likely to be, in order to enable him to make arrangements with the Guarantee Society. Mr Strike thought J350. would be sufficient security. Mr Wickes withdrew his motion, and the amendment became the motion. An amendment was then moved that the sum be fixed at £350, which was carried. The Town Clerk stated that as it would take six weeks to complete the arrangement with the Society, it -would be a favor if they would accept, in the meantime, personal security for J2OO. It was agreed to adopt this course. The report of the Public Works Committee recommended the Council to grant to M 'Sherry and party permission to nvne on two acres of the South Spit ; also, that Mr Noll's tender for piles at lOd per foot, and Mr Campbell's tender for fixing the land ties at £3- per tie, be accepted ; and that fresh tenders be called for scrub at per cord. Mr Parkinson moved that permission be given to the miners as asked. Mr Ashton seconded. Mr Kilgour wished the Solicitor's opinion to be taken. Mr Perkins stated that he had visited the locality since last meeting, and found that the iand'was under the control of the Waste Lands Board, and the Counoil could not lease it to miners. If they did so, the men were liable to be prosecuted as trespassers on Crown Lands, and the | Council were liable to be sued on the \ lease. The men. could mine there at their own risk, and all the Council could do , was to rate them the same as any other occupier within the Borough. After a discussion, during which several , members questioned the Solicitor' 3 ' opinion, Mr Strike moved— " That permission ; be granted to the men to mine on the ground." Mr Moore thought that communication on the subject be made to the Waste Lands Board, and moved an amendment j — "That a telegram be sent as soon as ■ possible to the Board, asking its opinion as to the power of the Council to lease i

small portions of the South Spit, within the Borough, for mining purposes, and if the Waste Lands Board would sanction their doing bo." Mr Ashton seconded the amendment. On a division, the voting was equal, and the Mayor gave his casting vote in favor of the amendment, as it was in accordance with the Solicitor's opinion. Mr Parkinson wished to give every encouragement to the men to work on the beach, and moved — "That the Council is willing to sanction the application of M'Sherry and party, and that they be informed that the Council will not grant permission to any other party to mine on their ground." This was earned. The Town Clerk reported that Mr Noll had not come forward to take up his contract for the supply of piles, and he was afraid that the next tenderer would not come forward either. He was instructed to accept the third tender, if the second tenderer did not come to take up his contract next morning. There was some conversation as to the byerlaws which were adopted at the last meeting, and the Solicitor stated that no bye-laws could be adopted until they had been advertised for seven d«ys. The Town Clerk reported the overdraft at the Bank to be £143 14s, but the i2OO due from the surplus revenue, had not yet been received. surveyor's rbport. The following report was received from , the Town Surveyor :— " Town Surveyor's Office, "Greymouth, Oct. 22, 1868, " To the Mayor and Borough Council, '•' Gentlemen — I have the honor of bringing before your notice the necessity of some immediate steps being taken to secure the present protection work in its place. The river bed during the first two floods scoured from 9 inches to 6 feet, as you will see from the section now before you. I have also tried some places since the flood yesterday, and find that though the scour has increased littletalongside the piles, yet they are standing on such a precipitous ledge of shingle that it only requires the action of perhaps another flood to'carry the whole work out to sea. " I feel certain that the tie piles and ties now being driven is not sufficient to prevent the work breaking up, as the scour in the river bed will evidently Increase until the bed assumes the form of a regular gradient from the Nelson side to the protection work, with the deepest water along* side the piles. This scour would, of conrse, be below the present depth of any piling yet down. " I would therefore propose to drive 100 50-feet piles outside present capping, one alongside every third pile, and when finished drive another- 100, one in each space of the former hundred, and if any material change should occur in the river bed when the first 100 piles are driven, the lengths of the second 100 might be increased to 60 or 70 feet as required. " I have given the subject of a groyne at the top of the wharf a good deal of consideration, .and though I believe it would have the effect of throwing the weight of the floods against Gqbden, yet I believe the waier would rebound off the Nelson side and strike the protection work a little below Boundary street, if a second groyne were not put in there to prevent i% "I am also of opinion that if two groynes were put in, and they were to have the desired effect, that the protection work is not even then safe until piled as I have advocated above. ■ i' I have,, &g,, V R* J. Johnston, "• Town Surveyor," The report was received," and- the .Surveyor was authorised to drive the 50-feet piles where required. The Town Clerk stated that the Valua* tor expected to be able to lay his valuation of town property befpre the Council at its next meeting. Consideration, of the Surveyor's estimates for public works, and also of Mr Harrison's letter recently received, was deferred until next meeting, THE INSTITUTE BUILDING. Mr Wiokes moved — ' I That the Ocuncil accept the offer, if made, of the Trustees of the. Religious Institute, to take over the building." In offering the building the Trustees desired that it should not be cut up into offices, but should be lined and painted. Mr Coates seconded the motion. Mr Kilqour could not see what use the building would be to the Council if they could not cut it up into offices. Mr Rae moved an amendment — ''That the Council decline to accept the gift.*' He was sure it would not have been offered, if the trustees could have, made anything out of it. Mr Strike seconded. The Mayor made explanations regarding the position of the trustees. " They attached no conditions to the gift, but merely expressed their wishes as to what should be done with the building. A distinct offer bad not yet been madp ; he along with Mr Wickes had been deputed to see upon what terms the Council was prepared to take the building over. When these terras were, known i^was most probable that a meeting of the subscribers would be called. After some discussion the motion was carried. GENERAL BUSINESS. Mr Coates moyedr- << That tenders be invited for supplying 100 50-feet piles, to be driveu where required in the wharf and protective works. Mr Wickes seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Wickes moved — "That a Committee^ consisting of the Mayor, Messrs Ashton, Isae, and the mover, be appointed to confer with the Native Commissioner on hia arrival, on various matters affecting the. welfare of the town. " This was seconded, and carried. Mr Wickes moved—" That the Public Works Committee be authorised to allow extra on contract No. 3 for fixing cross* stays, as shown on plan for land ties." Carrie d. Two memorials were presented from residents praying that small sums might be voted for purchasing the bridge over J the tidal creek at the Wesleyan Church, and throwing it open to the public ; and for the repair of Tainui street near the Hospital. They were ordered to lie on the table till next meeting. The Council adjourned.